Machine openable envelope

ABSTRACT

An envelope having front and back panels defining a cavity therebetween with lines of weak tear strength extending longitudinally across each panel from one side edge to the other overlapping the cavity so that when the lower tear strip portion of the envelope is removed, any contents within the envelope will be exposed sufficiently for gripping along that portion thereof which projected into the tear strip cavity, and restricting means to prevent contents within the tear strip cavity from intruding between front and back panels in an area about which the tear strip portion is gripped for severing from the envelope.

i lie States ateni 72] Inventor William W. Smith San Jose, Calif. [21]Appl. No. 1,938 [22] Filed Dec. 29, 1969 [45] Patented Dec. 14, 1971[73] Assignee FMC Corporation San Jose, Calif. Original application May2, 1968, Ser. No. 726,176. Divided and this application Dec. 29, 1969,Ser. No. 11,939

[54] MACliilNE OPENABLIE ENVlELQlPE 4 Claims, 9 Drawing Figs.

[52] 11.5. C1 229/85 [51] int. C1 843m 7/00 [50] Field oi Search 229/81,85, 86

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,097,505 11/1937 Arp et a1229/86 FOREIGN PATENTS 955,114 11/1947 France 229/81 477,738 10/1951Canada 229/85 22,509 12/1892 Great Britain 229/85 PrimaryExaminer-Joseph R. Leclair Assistant Examiner-Stephen P. GarbeAttorneys- F. W. Anderson and C. E. Tripp ABSTRACT: An envelope havingfront and back panels defining a cavity therebetween with lines of weaktear strength extending longitudinally across each panel from one sideedge to the other overlapping the cavity so that when the lower tearstrip portion of the envelope is removed, any contents within theenvelope will be exposed sufficiently for gripping along that portionthereof which projected] into the tear strip cavity, and restrictingmeans to prevent contents within the tear strip cavity from intrudingbetween front and back panels in an area about which the tear stripportion is gripped for severing from the envelope.

PATENTED DEC 1 4 12m SHEET 1 BF 2 INVENTOR.

WILLIAM W. SMITH I 6 ATTORNEYS PATENTED DEC I 4197! sum 2 0F 2 INVENTORWILLIAM W. SMITH MTTORNEYS MACHINE OPENABLE ENVELOPE CROSS REFERENCE TORELATED APPLICATION This application is a division of applicant'scopending application Ser. No. 726,176, filed May 2, 1968, and entitledEN- VELOPE AND APPARATUS FOR OPENING SAME."

This invention relates to an envelope and more specifically, to anenvelope which may be readily opened by a machine without damaging thecontents of the envelope and when so opened the contents of the envelopeare exposed sufiiciently for gripping and removal by another machine.

Machines for opening envelopes are not novel per se. For example, in onetype of machine the envelope is slit along the top edge so that thefront and back panels may be spread apart by hand for removal of thecontents. Such devices suffer a disadvantage in that they occasionallysever the contents of the envelope and, in fact, it is difficult toavoid this when the contents extend to the edge being slit. This isparticularly troublesome when the contents include coded punched cardswhich are commonly employed in billing statements that need to bereturned in good condition for subsequent computer operation. i

It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide an improvedenvelope having a tear strip to facilitate opening thereof.

It is a further object of this invention to provide an envelope whichcan be readily opened, and which when opened exposes the contents tofacilitate removal thereof.

It is a further object of this invention to provide an envelope having atear strip which may be grasped for opening the envelope withoutdamaging the contents.

In carrying out this invention, an envelope including front and backpanels is provided with a scalable. closure flap along the top edge anda tear strip along the bottom of the envelope. The tear strip is formedbeneath perforations extending through both panels along coincidentallines parallel to and spaced from the bottom edge so that contents ofthe envelope extending to the bottom edge will protrude from the severedopening after the tear strip is removed. The envelope panels are adheredtogether along both sides in strips sufficiently wide to permitengagement by grasping means. The adhered side strips prevent thecontents of the envelope from extending to the side edge so that whenthe tear strip is gripped at an edge, the contents will not bedisturbed. The tear strip is preferably provided with reinforcing liningto increase the tear strength of the tear strip so the tearing will berestricted to along the perforated lines.

The envelope-opening apparatus includes a conveyor with means forgripping the envelope firmly to carry it along a fixed path. Such meansmay include adjacent pinch-grip belts which firmly engage opposite sidesof the envelope with the tear strip extending beyond adjacent edges ofthe belts. A rotating stripping wheel is positioned adjacent to theconveyor and is rotated in timed relationship with the conveyor and atthe same linear velocity. The stripping wheel is provided with a pair ofgrip fingers which embrace the tear strip at the leading edge within thearea of the adhered side strips. Then, after the grip fingers areactuated to grasp the tear strip, continued rotation of the wheelcarries the stripping fingers away from the conveyor to pull the tearstrip free of the remainder of the envelope. Thereafter the fingers arespread to release the tear strip.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent fromthe description that follows when read in conjunction with theaccompanying drawing wherein:

FIG. I is an isometric view of an envelope embodying features of thisinvention,

FIG. 2 is a partial section view taken along line 2-2 of FIG. I.

FIG. 3 is a partial section view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. I.

FIG 4 is an isometric view partially broken away, of an apparatus foropening the envelope of FIG. I.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary section taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 4 butshowing the fingers 38a, 38b at an open position just prior toengagement with cams 45.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary section taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a modified form of envelope and openingapparatus.

FIG. 8 is a section taken on the line 8-8 of FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a partial section of a modified form of envelope taken on line99 of FIG. 7.

Referring now to FIG. I to 3, the envelope 10 comprises from and rearpanels I2 and M which may simply be folded over at lb to form the loweredge and glued together in strips 18 extending along the side edges toform a complete enclosure. As is customary, a flap 19 extends from thefront panel in order to seal the envelope in the conventional manner.The width of the glued side strips 18 must be sufficient to accommodategrasping means hereinafter to be described.

Along lines generally parallel to the bottom edge I6 and spaced inwardlytherefrom are coextensive perforations 20 in both front and rear panels12 and 14 forming a tear strip 22 which may be severed from theremainder of the envelope Ill. As illustrated in FIG. 3, the tear stripis preferably provided with a lining 24 of some suitable reinforcingmaterial such as polyester or Mylar bonded to the strip to giveadditional tear strength thereto so that tearing will be confined to theperforated lines 20 and will not wander toward the lower edge 116 of theenvelope and separate the tear strip 22 before it has severed across thefull length of the envelope to open it completely.

The glued side strips 13 not only secure the envelope sides to completethe enclosure, but prevent the intrusion of envelope contents into thestrip along the side edges. Hence, the tear strip 22 may be grasped inthe corner areas 26 common to the tear strip 22 and the glued edges 18and severed from the remainder of the envelope without touching thecontents within.

Apparatus 30 for opening the envelope of FIGS. I to 3 is illustratedgenerally in FIG, 4 and may comprise suitable con veyor means such asthe three pinch belts 32a, 32b and 33b to which envelopes 10a, 10b arefed by any suitable means, as by a conveyor 31. The rate at which theenvelopes are fed by conveyor 31 is greater than the speed of the threepinch belts. Alignments lugs 33 project from one pinch belt 32a andcorresponding mating slots 33a are provided between the pinch belts 32band 33b. Thus, each envelope is aligned with the leading edgeItibabutting an alignment lug 33. In the position of envelope 10b, it isfirmly grasped between the belts 32a, 32b and 33b and between a pair ofpinch rolls 34 (one only being shown), with the tear strip 22b beingbelow and free of the gripping pressure.

Rotatably mounted adjacent to pinch belts 32a, 32b and 33b is astripping wheel 36 which rotates at a rate to carry a pair of strippingfingers 38a and 38b (FIG. 5), which are pivotally carried inside-by-side relation in a recess M in the circumference of the wheel,at the same velocity as the pinch belts 32a, 32b and 33b. As shown inFIG. 6 in connection with fingers 38b, each finger includes a pair ofcurled projections 39 which are rotatably mounted on a pin 40 that isthreaded into the wheel and spans the recess 41 in the periphery of thewheel. A coil spring 42, disposed around the pin 40, has end portions42a and 52b which bear against the inside surfaces of the fingers 3% and38b, respectively, and pivot then to pin 40 in an outward direction tothe open position shown in FIG. 5 wherein the outer surfaces of thefingers bear against the side edges of the opening ll in the wheelperiphery. Hence, by proper timing of the wheel 36, with the alignmentlugs 33 on the pinch belts 32a, 32band 3312, the gripping fingers can bemoved upwardly to embrace the tear strip 22 within the adhered area 26!;at the leading edge 18b of the envelope 10b.

Since the gripping fingers are normally held in the open position ofFIG. 5 by the coil spring 32, they will be in that position as they moveup to embrace the corner area of the tear strip 22b. Then, as thestripping fingers and envelope move along at the same velocity, thefingers are forced together to grasp the tear strip firmly, This may beaccomplished by suitable means such asa pair of identical oppositelydisposed arcuate cams 45 disposed in opposed side-by-side relation oneach side of the path of movement of the gripping fingers to force themtogether when they first engage the cams at 45a. Thereafter, ascontinued rotation of the stripping wheel 36 carries the grip fingers38a 38b away from the path traversed by the belts 32a, 32b and 33b thefingers pull the tear strip 22b away from the envelope held in the firmgrip of the pressure rolls 34 and the pinch belts 32a, 32b and 33b.Finally, when the envelope is completely severed, the grip fingers 'movefree of the pressure cams 45b and separate to release the tear strip 22band drop it into a suitable waste container (not shown). In themeantime, the envelope continues along a conveyor 43, as shown byenvelope a with the contents 46 protruding from the severed opening a sothat they may be readily removed manually or by any suitable automaticmeans without requiring the envelope panels 120 to be spread tofacilitate removal.

In a preferred embodiment the glued strips 18 are threeeighth inch wideand the distance between the strips 18 is about 8 inches. The tear strip22 is three-fourth inch and the overall height of the envelope is 3%inch. With these dimensions, a business card 3% inch X 7% inch will befree of the side strips 18, as shown in FIG. 2 and will project downinto the cavity provided by the tear strip 22, as shown in FIG. 4.

The modification shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 eliminates the need for precisetiming between envelopes 10 and an opening apparatus 50. The envelopesare fed by a conveyor 51 to a position between a pair of pinch belts 52.No alignment lugs are provided on the pinch belts since timing isunnecessary. A pair of pinch shoes 53 (only one being show in FIG. 7)resiliently urge the pinch belts into gripping relationship with anenvelope 10d that has a tear strip 22d extending below the belts. Thistear strip is removed by the letter-opening apparatus and openedenvelopes 100 are carried away from the pinch belts by a conveyor 54.

Spaced bearing blocks 56 and 58 are positioned below the pinch belts 52on opposite sides thereof. A drive shaft 60 is journaled in the bearingblocks and driven by a motor, not shown. Mounted on the drive shaft area pair of flexible discs 62 and 64 which can be made of rubber, asuitable plastic or a plasticized cloth. The peripheral portions of theflexible discs extend upwardly on opposite sides of the tear strip 22dwith those portions facing conveyor 51 being spread apart in an envelopereceiving position while those portions facing conveyor 54 areresiliently urged together in an envelope-gripping positron.

A mounting arm 65 extends inward from bearing block 56 and spread roller66 is rotatably mounted thereon in a position to engage the inner faceof the peripheral portion of flexible disc 62. Mounting arm 67 extendsinward from bearing block 58 and spread roller 68 is rotatably mountedthereon in a position to engage the inner face of the peripheral portionof flexible disc 64, These spread rollers are actuating means to openthe flexible discs in an envelope-receiving position facing conveyor 51.

The flexible discs 62 and 64 are resiliently urged together by actuatingmeans such as tapered rollers 70 through a quadrant extending from theuppermost portion of the discs to the disc portion facing conveyor belt54. These rollers are mounted in upper, intermediate and lower pairs ofopposite sides of the flexible discs. Each tapered roller is rotatablysupported at the inner end of an arm 71 and each arm is pivotablysupported at its midportion on a pin 72 that projects outward from oneof the bearing blocks. The outer end of each arm is connected to abearing block by a spring 73 that resiliently urges the inner end of thearm to force the tapered roller against its associated flexible disc. Inorder to compensate for the angular disposition of the flexible discsdue to bending into a gripping position, the rollers are taperedinwardly towards shaft 60.

The envelope opened by opening apparatus 50 can be the same as envelope10, shown in FIG. 1. Even though the contents of the envelope extenddownward between the tear strip 22, the pressure of the pinch belts 52gripping that portion of the envelope above perforation line 20 issufficient to prevent the contents from being withdrawn with the tearstrip.

For extra safety, a modified form of envelope 10d, as shown in FIGS. 7and 9, can be used. Throughout the lower portion of a tear strip 22d,both top panel 12d and bottom panel 14d are glued together. Thus, thecontents 46d of the envelope are restricted above the glued portion ofthe lower tear strip and out of gripping position between the flexiblediscs 62 and 64.

In operation, envelopes 10 are fed by conveyor 51 to a position betweenpinch belts 52. Shoes 53 maintain the pinch belts in grippingrelationship with an envelope such as 10a. The tear strip 22d extendsbelow the pinch belts and is drawn between the flexible discs 62 and 64.Regardless of timing, the flexible discs griping the tear strip when itreaches a point opposite the upper tapered rollers 70 and sever theenvelope along perforated line 20d as the tear strip is drawn downward.The opened envelope, such as 10c, together with contents 46c are carriedaway by conveyor 54.

While this invention has been described in conjunction with preferredembodiments thereof, it is obvious that modifications and changestherein may be made by those skilled in the art without departing formthe spirit and scope of this invention as defined by the claims appendedhereto.

1 claim:

I. An envelope comprising a front panel; a back panel connected to thefront panel along common longitudinal and side edges to define a cavitytherebetween; said front and back panels having lines of weak tearstrength that extend longitudinally across each panel from one side edgeto the other for severing a lower tear strip portion from an upperportion of the envelope; said lines of weak tear strength being locatedsufficiently above the lower longitudinal edge of the envelope for thetear strip portion to include enough of the front and back panelsoverlapping the cavity that when the tear strip portion is removed, anycontents within the envelope will be exposed sufficiently for grippingalong that portion which projected into the cavity within the tear stripportion; and restricting means within part of the tear strip portion forpreventing envelope contents from intruding between front and backpanels in an area about which the tear strip portion is gripped forsevering the envelope.

2. An envelope as described in claim I wherein said restricting meanswithin the tear strip portion extends inward form one side edge a widthsufficient for gripping engagement and upper from the lower longitudinaledge to the liens of weak tear strength; said envelope further includingrestricting means within the upper portion of the envelope along the oneside edge between front and back panels above the restricting meanswithin the tear strip portion to limit the cavity above the tear stripportion as it is limited in the tear strip portion.

3. An envelope as described n claim 2 including restricting means alongthe other side of the envelope between front and back panels extendinginward therefrom a width sufficient for gripping engagement and upwardfrom the lower longitudinal edge to the top longitudinal edge to providea second gripping area in the tear strip portion and to limit theenvelope cavity above the tear strip portion uniformly along the saidother side edge.

4. An envelope as described in claim 1 wherein said restricting meanswithin the tear strip portion extends between opposite side edges of theenvelope and upward from the lower longitudinal edge a distancesufficient for gripping engagement below the cavity within the tearstrip portion.

D STATES PATENT OFFICE CEMNCATE F uom'uu fimzeut No. 3,627, 196

mvenmyw WILLIAM w SMITH It is certified that error appears in theabove-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are herebycorrected as shown below:

"then 110" should read them on. Column 3 line 26, change "5/8" to--3/8--n Column 3, line 65,

change of (1st occurrence) to --on--. Column 4 line 4,, Chang "envelope"to -envelopes-. Column 4, line 21, "griping" should be --grip--q Column4, line 29, "form" should be --from-- Column 4, line 50 "form" should be--from-. Column l line 52 "liens" should be ---lines- Column 4, line 58,

"n should be -=--in--.

Column 2, line 65,

Signed and sealed thie 18th day of July 1972 QSEAL) Ala-test: v

RQBERT GQTTSGHALK Commissioner of Patents EDWARD MQFLETCHERMR.AtteetiugOfflcer

1. An envelope comprising a front panel; a back panel connected to thefront panel along common longitudinal and side edges to define a cavitytherebetween; said front and back panels having lines of weak tearstrength that extend longitudinally across each panel from one side edgeto the other for severing a lower tear strip portion from an upperportion of the envelope; said lines of weak tear sTrength being locatedsufficiently above the lower longitudinal edge of the envelope for thetear strip portion to include enough of the front and back panelsoverlapping the cavity that when the tear strip portion is removed, anycontents within the envelope will be exposed sufficiently for grippingalong that portion which projected into the cavity within the tear stripportion; and restricting means within part of the tear strip portion forpreventing envelope contents from intruding between front and backpanels in an area about which the tear strip portion is gripped forsevering the envelope.
 2. An envelope as described in claim 1 whereinsaid restricting means within the tear strip portion extends inward formone side edge a width sufficient for gripping engagement and upward fromthe lower longitudinal edge to the lines of weak tear strength; saidenvelope further including restricting means within the upper portion ofthe envelope along the one side edge between front and back panels abovethe restricting means within the tear strip portion to limit the cavityabove the tear strip portion as it is limited in the tear strip portion.3. An envelope as described in claim 2 including restricting means alongthe other side of the envelope between front and back panels extendinginward therefrom a width sufficient for gripping engagement and upwardfrom the lower longitudinal edge to the top longitudinal edge to providea second gripping area in the tear strip portion and to limit theenvelope cavity above the tear strip portion uniformly along the saidother side edge.
 4. An envelope as described in claim 1 wherein saidrestricting means within the tear strip portion extends between oppositeside edges of the envelope and upward from the lower longitudinal edge adistance sufficient for gripping engagement below the cavity within thetear strip portion.